Logging on to Sea Rescue

Got home at 1130 this morning after 4 hours at our local Volunteer Sea Rescue building trying to locate 2 boats with 5 on one and 2 on the other who had not logged on the previous morning.After the alarm being raised and police and water police notified,boat crews put on standby,a rescue/customs plane diverted and relatives contacted in Perth it was found where they were intending to fish.

I do not know the exact number of man hours that were wasted if someone had spent 30 seconds logging on,but it would be substantial.

The main reason we get for not logging on is usually I forgot!!What if we forgot to go looking for someone,imagine the result yet boaters do it every day.In my opinion it should be compulsory with a hefty fine and suspension of RST.Even if your radio isn't working a simple phone call may save your life or even your crew and boat.

At least this call out was at a reasonable hour not like they usually are,in the middle of the night.


Faulkner Family's picture

Posts: 17835

Date Joined: 11/03/08

They are nuts mate

Wed, 2008-10-15 19:08

What a waste of recourses and money.

Any one that goes to sea even if it is only a few km out should in JMO call in ,radio in what ever but let sea rescue know they are out there. to many times i have spoken to our guys and a full carpark of trailers but sea rescue only has about 15 boats on there records .

i just can not belive anyone would be so stupid as to put there lifes on the line for a simple call up.

And yes i think it should also be compulsory to call in

This is JMO

 SANDY

 

"A family that fishes together stays together"

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gpc123's picture

Posts: 265

Date Joined: 12/02/07

logging in

Wed, 2008-10-15 19:27

Isnt logging on and off part of the RST?It was with mine. If so then it should be compulsory to log on and of when heading out to sea.(its not hard)

Regards:Geoff & Luke

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BQ544's picture

Posts: 361

Date Joined: 22/10/06

Yep I agree always log on,

Wed, 2008-10-15 20:07

Yep I agree always log on, and why not go another step and pay your 35 bucks and join sea rescue.

I find it odd as well that you need to be able to log on and off to pass your RST but it's not compulsory? I guess they don't make it compulsory because all areas don't have a full time sea rescue....

Dreamweaver's picture

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Date Joined: 01/12/07

Yup Geoff & Luke

Thu, 2008-10-16 07:25

Part of the RST - as I did a one on one in my boat for the prac, the login into Albany Sea Rescue (VMR610) was part of the drill, even though we didn't leave Oyster Harbour. I agree, I'm a paid up member of VMR610 - well worth it and support of a great cause. The BIG advantage of being a member is that they have all your details on record - boat, boat number, contact details, car and trailer rego - the lot. 

I'm amazed how many people go out and don't even have a mobile on them (though the latter should never be considered a replacement for a good tranceiver). 

I've rescued three tinnies in King George Sound coming back in, because their motor wouldn't start and they didn't even have a mobile phone on board or radio. Foot in mouth

And remember folks it's either OVER or OUT - never both Wink

Colin Molloy

(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)

 

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Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!

Adam Gallash's picture

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Date Joined: 29/11/05

Like that idea

Thu, 2008-10-16 08:40

If it did become compulsory, that idea of suspending their RST would be a jem John!

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carnarvonite's picture

Posts: 8622

Date Joined: 24/07/07

Membership of Marine Rescue

Thu, 2008-10-16 09:09

All of the groups would welcome with open arms new members,active ones even better
Here we have about 50-60 members on our list but there is only a core group of 15-20 who are active either in administration,radio watch duties,boat crews or back up services,not forgetting fund raisers.The addition of more active members would take some of the load off existing members and allow us to give an even better service if that is possible than we attempt to give now.I think I am saying this for all the groups because we are all volunteers and recently there were some who received Meritorios Service Certicicates recognising years and years of service.I have 5 years which is nothing compared to 30+ for some.
Hopefully we can get a lot of young guns in as we find the average age of our active members is approx 50,but don't let that stop the elder people from joining.

carassius's picture

Posts: 126

Date Joined: 21/03/08

Compulsory - deffinately

Thu, 2008-10-16 11:27

Maybe not suspension of ticket, but a nice hefty fine with 70% of revenue given to Marine Rescue. However, if they require rescue & haven't logged on, the suspend their ticket with a fine, or perhaps 20+ hrs community service at their local Marine Rescue manning the phone or like! Laughing

Watto069's picture

Posts: 427

Date Joined: 15/01/08

What is the channel to log

Thu, 2008-10-16 12:04

What is the channel to log in on. I must admit I haven't logged in and it has been a long time since I have done my RST so not real sure about what channels to use

So many fishing spots. Not enough sickies!!!!!!!

carnarvonite's picture

Posts: 8622

Date Joined: 24/07/07

Log on Channel

Thu, 2008-10-16 13:34

Use ch 16 on UHF or 88 on 27meg,they will tell you to go to their working channel,usually 73 on VHF and 90 or 91 depending on which group you sign on with

Bodie's picture

Posts: 3758

Date Joined: 05/11/07

Im the same, i did logon and

Thu, 2008-10-16 12:45

Im the same, i did logon and log off at mackerel islands, but dont usually in metro... but i have thought that i should.

Whats the deal? / Channel?

Also do you just say ''Sea resuce this is recreciontal boat blah.. leaving two rocks 6am and planning to reutn at 4pm'?

Something like that?

Dreamweaver's picture

Posts: 4688

Date Joined: 01/12/07

Channel and Info

Thu, 2008-10-16 13:06

You guys using HF or VHF or either?

Which Sea Rescue Group (locality?)

Most info required I've found is basically the same - with a few minor variations.

When logging on, they normally require:

1) Where you departed from.

2) How many persons on board.

3) Where you are heading to. 

4) Your ETR (Estimated Time of Return).

EDIT - VERY VERY IMPORTANT - If you are likely to exceed your ETR - radio in a revised ETR. Otherwise a lot of attention /resources are diverted to overdue returns. It's amazing how many people don't revise their times when staying out longer - especially during the Albany tourist season. )

* Some services prefer you to advise what channel you are broadcasting on (presumably because they are monitoring multiple frequencies of have multiple band traceivers).

** Others want to know how much fuel you are carrying

* Albany Sea Rescue

** Fremantle Sea Search and Rescue (at least they did 3 years ago when I was in perth.

Here's an info link:

http://www.fesa.wa.gov.au/internet/upload/shared/docs/VMRS_web.pdf

 

 

 

Colin Molloy

(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)

 

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Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!

carnarvonite's picture

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Date Joined: 24/07/07

Frequencies

Thu, 2008-10-16 13:48

Most groups have HF,usually on 4125,all have VHF and monitor ch 16 as well as 27meg and monitor ch88 plus what channel it has assigned to it.

If I remember 2Rocks works on 91,Whitfords 90.It pays to leave your radio on 16/88 if not in use,they are the emergency channels ,more persons listening means less chance of a distress call being missed by a base station due to low signal strength etc.When you want to contact someone,call them on 16/88 then swap to the channel you want to talk on with out clogging them up with idle chatter.

Dreamweaver's picture

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Date Joined: 01/12/07

Good advice

Thu, 2008-10-16 13:52

Quote:

with out clogging them up with idle chatter.

Great advice carnarvonite - used to do my head in = the number of people that used VMR610s HF working channel as a 'chat channel' - one of the reasons I swapped to VHF down here (though VHF is better down here anyway - and you still get a few 'chatters' on the working channel. 

Colin Molloy

(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)

 

____________________________________________________________________________

Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!

Bodie's picture

Posts: 3758

Date Joined: 05/11/07

think two rocks has its own

Thu, 2008-10-16 13:05

think two rocks has its own sea rescue

Dreamweaver's picture

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Date Joined: 01/12/07

Yes Bodie

Thu, 2008-10-16 13:10

According to the PDF via that link it does - it's VMR677

Colin Molloy

(Colin 2 - Co-founding member of the prestigious Colin Club)

 

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Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!

Watto069's picture

Posts: 427

Date Joined: 15/01/08

I leave my on ch 88 and on

Thu, 2008-10-16 14:39

I leave my on ch 88 and on Monday when I went out there was alot of general chat

So many fishing spots. Not enough sickies!!!!!!!

BQ544's picture

Posts: 361

Date Joined: 22/10/06

Log on  channel 90 on 27 mg

Thu, 2008-10-16 20:40

Log on  channel 90 on 27 mg for freo and Rockingham, and 91 for Mandurah. Keeps the emergency channel 88 open for emergencies.

Set your radio up so that you are on 90 or 91 but still monitor 88.

I go as far as give sea rescue my exact waypoint and time in the water when we go in for a dive. My dive buddy doesn't like it because he thinks someone will right down are way point. But at least I know if we come up from a dive and the boats gone they know are exact point we entered the water. Pretty cheap insurance IMO